U18s suffer only third Premier League defeat of the season

7 November 2016

Royals lose heavily to Norwich in a difficult afternoon in Norfolk

Reading Under-18s suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Norwich on Saturday afternoon in the U18 Premier League at Colney. Despite coming from behind to take the lead early on, David Dodds' Royals fell to a 9-2 loss at the hands of Norwich away from home, their heaviest defeat of the season so far.

Norwich opened the scoring after seven minutes when when Devonte Aransibia converted for the hosts getting o the end of Emersson Sambu's pass.

The Royals soon jumped in to life however, replying swiftly to level the scores in Norfolk when central defender Ramarni Medford-Smith netted.

Medford-Smith was at it again ten minutes later when he scored to hand Reading a lead away from home in an impressive early fightback.

Unfortunately things went downhill from then on in for the Royals when ten minutes later Norwich levelled the scores again through Bilal Kamal before skipper Owen Wallis put City ahead making the score 3-2 to the home side 3-2.

The game turned in the host’s favour two minutes before half time when stopper Liam Driscow was sent off for a challenge on the final man. 10 man Reading could not stop Norwich from extending their lead when Kamal netted again to give the hosts a two goal cushion.

After an open and quite even first half, Reading’s ten men struggled I the second period with Kamal completing his hat-trick for the young Canaries soon after the break.

Toby Syme added a sixth, before Alan Fleming made it seven 66 minutes in. The visitors managed to keep Norwich from inflicting further damage until six minutes from time when Fleming netted again to make the scores 8-2.

The final goal of the game came two minutes from time through substitute Anthony Spyrou, with fourth placed Royals only suffering their third defeat of the season in the league.